234 
VOYAGE TO THE 
water-logged, but being laden with timber had not sunk. 
Her dismantled rigging indicated how severe had been her 
struggle with the elements. Her foremast was carried 
away, but part of her bowsprit and the stump of her main- 
topmast were still standing, and a topsail yard was crossed, 
to which a few shreds of canvas were still hanging. An 
English jack reversed was attached to the main rigging, and 
the mizen-mast was partly gone. The sea had cleared the 
decks of every thing. We all now felt the greatest anxiety 
to reach her. The evening was closing in, with every sign 
of an approaching gale. Thick squalls had already once or 
twice concealed from us the object of our pursuit; but at 
length we came near enough to discern tw r o human figures 
on the wreck, and, presently, four others came out from be¬ 
hind the remnants of a tattered sail, which hung from the 
main rigging, and which had, as it appeared, been their only 
shelter from the weather. 
It w r as late ere our boat reached the wreck, where she 
remained long; and, as the weather was growing worse and 
the night dark, we fired a gun to hasten her return. No 
words can describe the wretched state of the poor creatures 
she brought when she did come. Two women and four men 
were sent up in the arms of the sailors, evidently suffering 
in the last stage of famine. They were immediately carried 
